'Mass casualties' at US air show plane crash

[oz_mark]

A plane plunged into the stands at an air race event in Reno in what an official described as a "mass casualty situation".


It wasn't immediately known how many people were killed. But video of the crash showed a horrific scene of bodies and wreckage at the front of the stands.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/mass-casualties-at-us-air-show-plane-crash-20110917-1kens.html
​

 

[markis10]

12 deceased with 25 serious apparently, terrible news, the pilot of the P51 was an 80 year old.

 

[samiam]

Videos are already appearing on Youtube... you know where that is.

 

[notzac]

Videos are already appearing on Youtube... you know where that is.

Some things in life I can live without seeing .. truly a horrible accident, may those who have passed on from this world as a result RIP.

 

[rotator101]

Yikes ... sorry to hear about this. This particular air show is run differently than most of the usual US weekend Airshows, but this will put a damper on the rest of them this year (I have volunteered at the El Paso Amigo Airsho in previous years, and the show organizers work very hard to keep show goers safe).

 

[Pushka]

Yikes ... sorry to hear about this. This particular air show is run differently than most of the usual US weekend Airshows, but this will put a damper on the rest of them this year (I have volunteered at the El Paso Amigo Airsho in previous years, and the show organizers work very hard to keep show goers safe).

Every few months we hear of an air show crash. What is it with these shows?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Every few months we hear of an air show crash. What is it with these shows?

Proof of that statement ?? Links ?
IMHO any incident gets a lot a of justified publicity

 

[Pushka]

Proof of that statement ?? Links ?
IMHO any incident gets a lot a of justified publicity

No proof no links just anecdotal.

 

[casanovawa]

Not agreeing or disagreeing, but wasn't there a few months ago where there were like 3 crashes in the space of a couple of days at different air shows/flight displays???

Still wouldn't stop me going, not that i have ever been but still maybe sometimes there are just bad runs and they certainly get media attention...

 

[Pushka]

Given that air shows arent exactly frequent, the stats are rather high (and this list is incomplete)

2011

• September 16 - Pilot Jimmy Leeward lost control of his plane and crashed into spectators at the Reno Air Races. [SUP][1][/SUP]

• August 21 - Wing Walker Todd Green fell 200 feet after an attempting an aircraft transfer from a Stearman to a Helicopter at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base Air Show. He was seriously injured and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. [SUP][2][/SUP]

• August 20 - A Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team "Red Arrows" aircraft (BAE Hawk T1) crashed after performing at an air show in Bournemouth, Dorset, U.K. The pilot issued a Mayday call at 1:50pm, and was witnessed to have plunged into the ground next to the river Stour, near the village of Throop. The pilot, 33-year old Flt Lt Jon Egging, was killed in the crash. [SUP][3][/SUP]

• August 20 - Stunt pilot Bryan Jensen was killed when his modified Pitts 12 "The Beast" crashed at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport at the Kansas City Airshow in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, around 1:30pm. [SUP][4][/SUP]

• July 10 - A replica Fokker Dr.I lost power at about 600 ft (180 m) above the ground during a mock dogfight at the Geneseo Air Show. The pilot, 67-year old Joseph Auger, attempted a controlled powerless glide, but the landing gear got caught on cornstalks and flipped over. The pilot was able to extricate himself from the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries.[SUP][2][/SUP]

• July 3 - A Bucker Jungmann belonging to the Shuttleworth Collection crashed during a practice for that day's display. The pilot walked away from the crash suffering only slight injuries. [SUP][5][/SUP]

• June 4 – 71-year-old Bill Phipps, experienced Campbell River, British Columbia pilot severely injured while performing acrobatics at the Wings and Wheels event at Nanaimo Airport, British Columbia. [SUP][6][/SUP]

• March 12 – While performing their Pirated Skies wing walking act, Kyle and Amanda Franklin were severely injured when their Waco JMF-7 nicknamed "Mystery Ship", suffered an apparent engine failure at the CAF 2011 Air Fiesta in Brownsville, TX. Both were listed as in stable condition with burns covering more than 60% of their bodies. Kyle's burns were not as serious as first reported. Amanda had successful surgery March 16, and was believed to have a good recovery chance at that time, but died on May 27.[SUP][7][/SUP]

 

[markis10]

I should point out this is not really an air show, its air racing. Having been involved in a number from an operational point of view, an airshow often goes to great lengths to make sure the display is done in an area where its impossible for the crowd to be hurt should something go wrong, obviously pylon racing its not possible.

Looks like the number dead has decreased , which is a good thing.

 

[QF WP]

That is sad and now I understand why some friends on FB had what I thought were cryptic messages.

Think I can do without watching it though...

 

[trooper]

Many air shows have riskier-than-normal aviation activies.... presumably largely due to having to perform close to the ground to allow the spectators to actually see anything...

In the list of incidents upthread notice the mention of "stunt", "wing walking", "aerobatics" etc

Add in aircraft as old as those flown by the Shuttleworth Collection... plus a replica Dr1 and so on....

..and we reach a situation similar (broadly) IMO to that of, say, car racing. Noone is surprised that there are accidents in motor sport... right?

What's the difference?

 

[Sifor]

One of the risks you take unfortunately. Condolences to the families.

Will it deter me from Amberley 2012? Not a chance!

But really, another reason not to fly in those old planes... I always see some WWI era biplane hooning around the Gold Coast doing barrel rolls 'n whatnot and think to myself, how bloody dangerous.

I thought twice about going for a ride in an older looking L-39.....heh did it anyway

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I remember being at the Reno Air Races in 1994 & there was a fatal crash involving an AT6. It happened a fair distance away from the spectators but I remember seeing this metal thing glinting in the sun falling to the ground which was the wing of the AT6 which subsequently crashed - there was no fireball just a clould of dust.

It was quite surreal in that you saw it happen but couldn't quite believe it & I found myself waiting for the replay.

 

[straitman]

The news this morning showed a piece of the right hand elevator tearing off prior to the accident.

 

[Sifor]

Mm overstressed. My money was on the pilot either blacking out or having a heart attack..

Edit: apparently he called in a mayday.

 

[munitalP]

And another warbird crash today in West Virginia...

 

[straitman]

And another warbird crash today in West Virginia...

I don't think you can blame the warbird for this one.

 

[Sifor]

Found a picture of the aircraft just prior to impact.... http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2011/09/xlarge_reno_crash_2.jpg

Impossible to fathom what those sitting there would have been thinking...